Irish heritage is part of the fabric of Pittsburgh
They left Ireland for greener pastures.
By 1850, 10,000 Irish immigrants were living in Pittsburgh. They settled in three neighborhoods — Downtown, the Strip District and the Hill District — according to Anne Madarasz, chief historian for the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Many were Catholic and drawn to what was at the time St. Paul’s Cathedral near Fifth Avenue and Grant Street, Downtown. Some lived in the Strip District near St. Patrick’s and others went to the Hill District, where St. Brigid parish was located, Madarasz said.
The Great Potato Famine, which began in 1845 when mold caused a plant disease that spread throughout Ireland, was not a big contributor to people leaving their native country, Madarasz said. Most came because they were pushed off their land because of religious and political persecution and because of the mechanization of the textile industry and loss of jobs, Madarasz said.
They found work in the Pittsburgh region as dock hands, teamsters, peddlers and shop keepers. There were industrial laborers, skilled artisans and construction workers.
“Irish immigrants came looking for economic opportunities and they found Pittsburgh to be a welcoming place,” Madarasz said. “They have a sense of pride in their identity and where they came from. It is who they are.”
They set down roots and became the foundation for generations to follow. Currently, about 16.3% of Pittsburghers self-identify as having Irish ancestry, Madarasz said, second only to the Germans at 19.6%.
Their traditions have stood the test of time.
Dance steps
On Tuesday nights, Irish music can be heard inside Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle in the Strip District where members of the Pittsburgh Ceili Club gather weekly.
Dancers take the floor. A caller directs the group. A sea of people — young and old from all walks of life — moves in unison. They are smiling and laughing doing a two-hand jig.
Lessons begin at 7:30 p.m. and dancing starts at 8 p.m.
Maureen Strotmeyer was one of Pittsburgh Ceili Club’s founders 35 years ago. She said the camaraderie dates back to when Irish immigrants arrived in Pittsburgh.
“Some of them were struggling and they came here and worked to take care of each other,” Strotmeyer said. “We all enjoy this dancing. We all need nights like this to be together and have a good time.”
Bruce Molyneaux has been playing Irish music at Mullaney’s since it opened in 1992.
“The dances are about tradition,” Molyneaux said. “It’s an extended family.”
There are traditional sessions every Thursday at various locations, the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, an Irish festival and other events during the year where the tunes come alive. Two of the people who have kept the authentic music playing throughout the region are Richard Hughes and Peter Shovlin Sr.
Hughes, who has been playing and performing traditional Irish music for decades, began performing at Saturday night dances at the former St. Moritz Hotel and on Sunday nights at a club above the former Mansmann’s Department Store, both in East Liberty.
He is part of the revival of Irish music.
“I am proud of that,” said Hughes, who plays the wooden flute and tinwhistle. “The melodies of Irish music spoke to me more than any other music.
Shovin’s daughter, Liz Grinko, was inspired to love Irish music from her father. The Shovlin family has been central to the development of Irish dance in Western Pennsylvania with Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance. Shovlin, a traditional Irish fiddler originally from County Donegal, Ireland, is a founding member of the Irish Centre of Pittsburgh.
“The dances are a multi-generational thing,” said Grinko, a certified céili dance instructor. “My father loves Irish music and plays whenever he can.”
The parade
Pittsburgh hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country. Held the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day unless the holiday falls on a Saturday, the route is 1.4 miles and attracts from 200,000-350,000 spectators and more depending on the weather, said parade chairman Jeff “Mac” McCafferty, of Swisshelm Park.
There are typically 20,000 participants and nearly 200 groups such as Irish step dancers, marching bands, military members and community organizations.
The parade dates back to 1869.
Even the worst snowstorm in Pittsburgh in 100 years — the Blizzard of ’93 — or a pandemic didn’t stop the Irish. The parades marched on.
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik blesses the parade after celebrating early Mass at St. Patrick Church in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
Ireland native Rob Tierney is this year’s Grand Marshal. He fell in love with Pittsburgh when he came to the U.S. in 2001 to work for the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, which provides job training, economic development, leadership development and education. He is also the only full-time employee for the national body of Irish sports, the U.S. Gaelic Athletic Association.
“Pittsburgh is a little bit of a hidden gem,” said Tierney. “Pittsburgh is incredibly Irish. These are people rooted in the fabric of Ireland. They take pride in being Irish.”
The Brookline resident said Pittsburghers are the most warm-hearted, generous people that you will find anywhere.
“They care about their community,” Tierney said. “They welcome strangers and they ardently preserve their heritage. It is such an honor to see all of the Irish events happening here. I am honored to be Grand Marshal.”
The 2022 Grand Marshal was Shovlin. He and his wife Sheila came to Pittsburgh in 1957.
“It was such a great day for him,” Grinko said. “Honoring him was a culmination of all the Irish music he has played over the decades. He is known for keeping the beat which is important for dancers.”
Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is a young woman who represents Irish heritage. She and her court have a prominent position in the parade.
Peggy Cooney, of Westwood, is chairperson of Miss Smiling Irish Eyes. Her mother, Sara Madigan, was one of the people who helped establish Miss Smiling Irish Eyes. This year’s Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is Madalyn Byrnes of Springdale.
“It’s a part of who I am and who my family is,” Byrnes told TribLive. “It’s something I’d hate to let go of and not acknowledge in my life.”
St. Patrick Church
St. Patrick Church was the first Roman Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. It is one of the Shrines of Pittsburgh. Upon entering there is a staircase with 28 steps which represents the 28 steps between Christ and Pilate when he condemned Christ to death. They are replicas of the Holy Stairs in Rome.
People are required to crawl each step on their knees to reach the altar while praying.
The only people who can walk the stairs are a bride and her father, and then the bride and groom.
Food and drink
St. Patrick’s Day weekend is celebrated at places such as Mullaney’s, Riley’s Pour House in Carnegie and Cork Harbour Pub in Lawrenceville.
Guinness lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, traditional fish and chips and bangers and mash are available at Mullaney’s. Riley’s Pour House.
Mullaney’s is known for The Great Guinness Toast, held every February when people attempt to break the record for the largest simultaneous beer toast.
Tanner Fitzgerald is a managing partner of Cork Harbour with his uncle Mike Brennan. Tanner’s wife Maddy and a group of family and friends — the Fitzgeralds, Brennans, Newells, Harrises, Millers and Foleys — are invested in the establishment.
“There is a strong sense and welcoming of Irish culture in Pittsburgh whether you are Irish or not,” said Fitzgerald, who grew up in an Irish and Italian family.
Irish Nationality Room
Irish culture is honored inside the Irish Nationality Room at the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland. John “Jack” Webber is chairperson and has been teaching the culture of Ireland through the Osher Program at Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute creates an intellectual environment for older adult students.
The national emblem, a harp, is above the entrance. Three stained glass windows are from Dublin. The room is used as a classroom. There is a great oak table with chairs that have posts carved as Irish wolfhound heads. A chest with a replica of the gospels from the book of Kells, a manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament, is nearby. The stone was imported from Ireland.
“This room is beautiful,” said Webber, who has been an educator for decades. “The Irish still feel their ancestors are here when they walk into this room. You need to see this in person.”
Elizabeth Myers, a Springdale native and vice-chair of the room, said it is “authentic” and helps to fund scholarships for students to study abroad.
U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
One can’t talk about the Irish in Pittsburgh without mentioning the Rooney family, owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dan Rooney and Pittsburgh businessman Anthony J.F. O’Reilly created The Ireland Fund in 1976, which is now The Ireland Funds. Rooney served as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland when invited by President Barack Obama.
Pittsburgh Irish Festival
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival is held annually in September to highlight Irish tradition through a weekend of music, lore, food, and dancing.
“The Irish in Pittsburgh are a wonderful community,” said Pittsburgh Irish Festival executive director Mairin Petrone. “They have put their stamp on Pittsburgh in a positive way.”
Everything Irish
There are various Irish events happening this weekend and beyond.
March 15: Donnybrook amateur boxing, Pittsburgh area fighters versus Irish sluggers, from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The Priory Grand Hall, Pittsburgh’s North Side. Sold out.
Details: donnybrook2024.ticketleap.com
March 15: Art on Tap: Shamrocks and Shenanigans 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Westmorland Museum of American Art, Greensburg
Details: thewestmoreland.org
March 16 and 17: Riley’s Pour House St. Patrick’s Day Block Party celebration in Carnegie, opens at 8:30 a.m. March 16 and 9 a.m. March 17. $10 cover charge
Details: rileyspourhouse.com
March 16: Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day parade begins at 10 a.m. in Downtown, Pittsburgh. The event is free.
Details: pittsburghstpatricksdayparade.com
March 16-17: Pittsburgh Penguins host the New York Rangers at 3 p.m. March 16 and the Detroit Red Wings at 6 p.m. March 17, both at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh Uptown. Tickets start at $41. The first 10,000 fans receive a St. Patrick’s Day hat on March 17.
Details: ppgpaintsarena.com
March 17: “Rhythm of the Dance” 4 p.m. at The Palace Theatre, Greensburg. Tickets start at $43.
Details: thepalacetheatre.org
March 17: Devilish Merry performs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Poetry Lounge in Millvale. Tickets are $10.
Details: devilishmerry.com
March 19: River City Brass Band’s “Celtic Connections” concert is at 7:30 p.m. at Bethel Park High School, Bethel Park. Tickets start at $24.
Details: rivercitybrass.org
March 20: The Ireland Funds Pittsburgh Gala at Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Tickets TBA
Details: irelandfunds.org
March 22: Irish Genealogy Workshop from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Tickets are $45.
Details: heinzhistorycenter.org
Sept. 6-8: Pittsburgh Irish Festival at the Carrie Blast Furnaces that span Rankin and Swissvale. Tickets start at $10.
Irish connections
The Irish have many organizations in this city. Here are some:
Ancient Order of Hibernians — alleghenyaoh.com
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians — aohdiv23.org
Irish American Unity Conference — iauc.org
Gaelic Arts Society — Gaelic-Arts-Society-of-Pittsburgh
Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance — shovlinacademy.com
The Step Sisters — The-Step-Sisters
The Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance Pittsburgh — fitzpatrickschoolofirishdancepgh.com
Pittsburgh Irish Reelers — facebook.com
Bell School of Irish Dance — bellschool.com
Gaelic Athletic Association — facebook.com
Knights of Equity — theknightsofequity.org
Daughters of Erin — theknightsofequity.org
Irish Centre of Pittsburgh — irishcentrepgh.org
Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh — www.facebook.com
Pittsburgh Ceili Club — ceiliclubpgh.com
Pittsburgh Irish Sessions — facebook.com
Note: Watch live streaming video of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the WTAE-TV mobile app, WTAE.com and the WTAE Facebook page.
Details: pittsburghstpatricksdayparade.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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